The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-01
COUNTY REFORMS.
The Registers Suggestions.
Columbia Re1tster,

Columbia Register.
The Register not long since ex-
pressed itself on the question of
Needed Reforms-County and State.
We did not give our views in detail,
for two reasons. One was that we
were not sure that they were wanted.
The other was that we did not regard
it the office of journalism to do more
than to throw out general suggestions
and to call attention in general terms
TO needed reforms in the government.
1t is for the Legislature to formulate
propositions and to crystal1ze them
into law. Hence we felt it neither
modest nor meritorious to be too
specific.
But we have been complimented by
our contemporaries, whom we re-
spect, of the Newberry News AND
HERALD and Of the Orangeburg
Times and Democrat. They invite
US to be more explicit as to county
reforms, and to give our ideas on the
question. We do So cheerfully,
emitting. however, all small details
and announcing only general
principles. We can only point the
way for legislation to travel. We
shall, however, file q bill Of partic
ulars to meet the case.
* In the first place, we emphasize the
proposition that the county system
is cumbersome and is unnecessarily
expensive. 1t is an Importation of
the Radical party and is fitted better
for the crowded communities OF the
North than for the sparsely settled
counties of South Carolina. Hence
We have advocated and deem it wise
for a Constitutional Convention of
the people Of South Carolina to be
held in order to simplify our State
Government and especially the coun-
ty system. In many respects, our
present Constitution is good in
strument, but there are certain fea-
lures that ought to be elimated. So
much for general remarks.
Now as to the county reforms
which commend themselves to our
judgment.
l.. 1t occurs to us that the Offices
Of county Treasurer and Auditor
ought to be consolidated. One officer
might discharge the duties of both
Offices, and the check on the Treas
urer is, after all, in the office OF a
sharp and keen Comptroller Gen
raj.
2 We repeat, that the court or
legal charges in the Office of Master
in Equity ought to be materially re
duced-such a schedule of charges
being established by law as will give
reasonable compensation to the Mas
ter.
8. We would make the Commis-
sioner of Public Schools largely
honorary Office. 1t seems to us that
in every county in the State could
be found some competent citizen in
terested in education who would dis
charge the duties of the office upon
the basis only of a per diem allow
ance when actually engaged in &C
tive work.
4. We hold that the County Com
missiopers have too much power in
relation to the finances of the county.
and that the compensation ought to
be so regulated as to make the Chair
man the working man of the Board
the others advisers rather. We
are not prepared as journalist to go
further now. We do point where
the axe of reform may we'll cut pro
bono publico.
5. AS to the Trial Justice system,
we hold large reforms may be insti-
tuted. If the peculiar exigencies of
our political situation make it wise
to continue the present system Of ap
pointment, then the appointing
power and all concerned should see
to it that none but discreet and gced
men are appointed Trial Justices
One special reform is that we ought
to reduce the number Of Trial
Justices. ard while diminishing their
power throughout the county we
would increase jurisdiction at the
respective courthouses throughout the
State. We would, for illustration,
have one Trial Justice only at the
court houses, except in Charleston,
where we would have three, and re
duced number in the county-nurn-
be7 being dependent upon the size
and geography of the county.
6. Doubtless there are other re.
forms in the matter of Trial Justices
and IN other county matters. But
we are not prepared as editor on the
moment TO 10 more than to show the
tread Of county reform. The legls-
iator must do the work. We cannot
90 but to a certain extent in news
paper. 1t has been said that fools
rush in where angels fear to tread.
Hence we must be guarded in our
reforms. We have. however, fur
nished some food for thought and
met the call upon US. Our sugges-
tions are submitted with due de-
ference to our readers and our con-
freres of the State press.
Bradley johnson at Home.